Hikers' rescue proves value of cell phones

TECHNOLOGY

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, April 25, 2010

Nothing spoils a peaceful Bay Area hike on a gorgeous spring afternoon quite like some loud-mouthed city dweller jabbering into an iPhone - but these days, a cell phone may be the most important piece of equipment a hiker can carry on the trail.

Two women were rescued from Garin Regional Park in Hayward on Friday night when a California Highway Patrol helicopter was able to track the Global Positioning System coordinates from a cell phone belonging to one of them, according to the CHP.

The hikers had gotten lost in a particularly rugged area of the park, and when it got dark a little after 8 p.m., they called for help, the CHP said. Once the helicopter pilot had their coordinates, it was easy to find them - especially when one of the women held up the cell phone so the lighted face was flashing from a ridge.

"We tell people to always have a cell phone with you," said Lt. Dave Dubowy, a patrol watch commander with the East Bay Regional Park District. "Technology is wonderful now. The GPS capabilities make our jobs so much easier."

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The old hiking safety rules still apply, Dubowy said: Bring plenty of water, wear lots of layers, and carry a map. Rangers' biggest concern for hikers is dehydration, and when the summer hits and the hills start drying out, they'll worry about fire hazards.

But during the peak hiking months, which typically start in May, East Bay Regional Park dispatchers will field at least a phone call a week about a lost or overdue hiker, Dubowy said.

Most people who head to the hills are out for an easy one- or two-hour walk, he said, but even they should carry a cell phone. People who are planning a longer, more rigorous hike should let someone else know where they're going and when they expect to be back. And they should know what time the sun is supposed to set so they don't accidentally get caught on the trail after dark.

That's when even the most experienced hikers can easily get lost, Dubowy said. A flashlight or headlamp can help, and every hiker should carry one, but it can still be tough to follow a trail in some areas.

If hikers get lost after dark, they should immediately call 911 for help, Dubowy said. If they can't get a signal, they should safely hike up to a higher elevation until they can make a call. Once they're on the phone with a dispatcher, they should stay put until they're found.

Almost all modern cell phones have GPS technology that makes them easy to track, Dubowy said. Once a helicopter locates them, a spotlight on the missing hikers will lead rangers right to them. In the case of Friday's lost hikers, the women were found within minutes of the CHP helicopter reaching the park.

"Stay put after you've contacted police," Dubowy said. "It's easier for us to find you, rather than have you stumbling around in the dark."